---
title: Manage your data using InfluxQL
description: Use InfluxQL data management commands to write and delete data.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/query-data/influxql/manage-data/
estimated_tokens: 3179
product: InfluxDB Cloud (TSM)
version: cloud
---

# Manage your data using InfluxQL

Use the following data management commands to write and delete data with InfluxQL:

-   [Write data with INSERT](#write-data-with-insert)
-   [Delete series with DELETE](#delete-series-with-delete)
-   [Delete measurements with DROP MEASUREMENT](#delete-measurements-with-drop-measurement)

## Write data with INSERT

The `INSERT` statement writes [line protocol](/influxdb/cloud/reference/syntax/line-protocol/) to a database and retention policy.

### Syntax

```sql
INSERT [INTO <database>[.<retention-policy>]] <line-protocol>
```

-   The `INTO` clause is optional. If the command does not include `INTO`, you must specify the database with `USE <database_name>` when using the [InfluxQL shell](/influxdb/cloud/tools/influxql-shell/) or with the `db` query string parameter in the [InfluxDB 1.x compatibility API](/influxdb/cloud/reference/api/influxdb-1x/) request.

### Examples

-   [Insert data into the a specific database and retention policy](#insert-data-into-the-a-specific-database-and-retention-policy)
-   [Insert data into the a the default retention policy of a database](#insert-data-into-the-a-the-default-retention-policy-of-a-database)
-   [Insert data into the currently used database](#insert-data-into-the-currently-used-database)

#### Insert data into the a specific database and retention policy

```sql
INSERT INTO mydb.myrp example-m,tag1=value1 field1=1i 1640995200000000000
```

#### Insert data into the a the default retention policy of a database

```sql
INSERT INTO mydb example-m,tag1=value1 field1=1i 1640995200000000000
```

#### Insert data into the currently used database

The following example uses the [InfluxQL shell](/influxdb/cloud/tools/influxql-shell).

```sql
USE mydb
INSERT example-m,tag1=value1 field1=1i 1640995200000000000
```

## Delete series with DELETE

The `DELETE` statement deletes all points from a [series](/influxdb/cloud/reference/glossary/#series) in a database.

### Syntax

```sql
DELETE FROM <measurement_name> WHERE [<tag_key>='<tag_value>'] | [<time interval>]
```

You must include either the [`FROM` clause](/influxdb/cloud/query-data/influxql/explore-data/select/#from-clause), the [`WHERE` clause](/influxdb/cloud/query-data/influxql/explore-data/where/), or both.

-   `DELETE` supports [regular expressions](/influxdb/cloud/query-data/influxql/explore-data/regular-expressions/) in the `FROM` clause when specifying measurement names and in the `WHERE` clause when specifying tag values.
-   `DELETE` does not support [fields](/influxdb/cloud/reference/glossary/#field) in the `WHERE` clause.

### Examples

-   [Delete all measurement data](#delete-all-measurement-data)
-   [Delete data in a measurement that has a specific tag value](#delete-data-in-a-measurement-that-has-a-specific-tag-value)
-   [Delete data before or after specified time](#delete-data-before-or-after-specified-time)

#### Delete all measurement data

Delete all data associated with the measurement `h2o_feet`:

```sql
DELETE FROM "h2o_feet"
```

#### Delete data in a measurement that has a specific tag value

Delete all data associated with the measurement `h2o_quality` and where the tag `randtag` equals `3`:

```sql
DELETE FROM "h2o_quality" WHERE "randtag" = '3'
```

#### Delete data before or after specified time

Delete all data in the database that occur before January 01, 2020:

```sql
DELETE WHERE time < '2020-01-01'
```

A successful `DELETE` query returns an empty result.

If you need to delete points in the future, you must specify the future time period because `DELETE SERIES` runs for `time < now()` by default.

Delete future points:

```sql
DELETE FROM device_data WHERE "device" = 'sensor1" and time > now() and < '2024-01-14T01:00:00Z'
```

Delete points in the future within a specified time range:

```sql
DELETE FROM device_data WHERE "device" = 'sensor15" and time >= '2024-01-01T12:00:00Z' and <= '2025-06-30T11:59:00Z'
```

## Delete measurements with DROP MEASUREMENT

The `DROP MEASUREMENT` statement deletes all data and series from the specified [measurement](/influxdb/cloud/reference/glossary/#measurement) and deletes the measurement from the index.

#### Syntax

```sql
DROP MEASUREMENT <measurement_name>
```

#### Example

Delete the measurement `h2o_feet`:

```sql
DROP MEASUREMENT "h2o_feet"
```

A successful `DROP MEASUREMENT` query returns an empty result.

The DROP MEASUREMENT command is very resource intensive. We do not recommend this command for bulk data deletion. Use the DELETE FROM command instead, which is less resource intensive.